Tom Schaefer has spent 31 years building a volleyball program at Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield. Now his peers have recognized what hundreds of Colts families already knew.

Schaefer was recently inducted into the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

"I was honored and flattered to be inducted and be included in a group with so many fantastic coaches from across the state," Schaefer told West Newsmagazine. "I have been extremely fortunate to have coached so many wonderful players and people and had the support of fantastic families over the years."

The numbers back it up. Entering this season, Schaefer had compiled 517 wins coaching boys and 387 coaching girls, for 904 combined victories. His boys teams won state championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. At the time, Missouri boys volleyball was a club sport; MSHSAA didn't officially sanction it until 2024. The Colts also claimed 11 district titles, eight conference titles, and made five additional Final Four appearances.

Schaefer took over the boys program in 1995 and added the varsity girls program in 1999. He was named MHSVCA state Coach of the Year in 2017. His girls teams have won two district and two conference championships.

Volleyball has shaped Schaefer's life well beyond the gym. He met his wife Jennifer through the sport. Two of his children played for him. He formed an adult USA Volleyball team that he played on until 2018. Former players have returned to coach alongside him or against him on opposing benches.

"It has gone by fast," Schaefer said. "I am starting to see kids of former players playing now. And I have come across a lot of players who are the kids of people I used to play against. Volleyball is a small world."